Bottle Carrier

ABSTRACT

A bottle carrier including a body defining at least two openings each for receiving the neck of a bottle to be carried, and a side wall which extends around part of the periphery of each opening. A lip associated with each of the openings is formed on the side wall. A bottle locking arm associated with each opening extends from the body to a free end so that the free end is movable radially of the opening towards and away from the lip to permit insertion of the bottle neck into the opening. A locking arrangement is connected to the body between the openings and is movable to a locking position to engage the bottle locking arms and prevent movement of same away from the lip to permit withdrawal of the neck of the bottle from the opening, thereby locking the bottle carrier to the bottle or bottles.

The present invention relates to a container, in particular, to acontainer for mounting on the neck of a bottle or other vessel having anannular abutment surface formed thereon.

As a promotional measure, it has become increasingly common to offergifts as an incentive to purchasers of products of various kinds,including those supplied in bottles, for example, beverages and otherliquid products. Where the main purchase is supplied in a bottle,difficulty arises in finding a suitable means of mounting the containeror package containing the gift on the bottle. If the gift is secured tothe body of the bottle, the overall circumference of the item isincreased, making it more difficult to fit an appropriate number ofbottles on a shelf for display to purchasers. Whatever part of thebottle the gift is secured to, there is difficulty in securing it sothat it simply cannot be removed and taken away without having been paidfor.

We have also appreciated that there may be a need to couple togetherpairs or multiples of bottles along with a gift item as part of aspecial sales promotion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a bottle carrier comprising a body defining atleast two openings each for receiving a portion of the neck of a bottleto be carried by means of the bottle carrier and having side wall meanswhich extend around a part of the periphery of each of said openings. Alip associated with each of said openings is formed on the side wallmeans extending partially around the periphery thereof, each said lipprojecting radially-inwardly of said opening. A bottle locking armassociated with each opening extends from said body to a free end sothat said free end is movable radially of the opening towards and awayfrom the lip formed on the side wall means around the periphery of saidopening to permit insertion of the neck of a bottle to be carried intothe opening. The free end of the bottle locking arm and the lip formedon the side wall means co-operate to engage an abutment formed on theneck of the bottle or by the bottle cap to oppose withdrawal of thebottle from the opening. Locking means connected to the body betweensaid openings are movable in use to a locking position in which thelocking means engages the bottle locking arms so as to prevent movementof the bottle locking arms away from the lip on the side wall means topermit withdrawal of the neck of said bottle from the opening, therebylocking the bottle carrier to the bottle or bottles.

In a preferred embodiment of the bottle carrier of the invention thebottle locking arms are resilient and can flex to move the free endsthereof towards and away from the associated lip on the side wall means.The locking means may be hingeably fixed to the body so that hingeingmovement thereof moves said locking means into the locking position, inuse. Preferably, the body, bottle locking arms and locking means areformed integrally by molding.

The bottle carrier may optionally comprise a container for a gift orother item secured to said body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view from above and to one side of a bottlecarrier according to the invention;

FIG. 2 shows the bottle carrier of FIG. 1 from below;

FIG. 3 shows the neck of a bottle being inserted into the bottle carrierof FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 shows the bottle carrier of FIG. 1, in use

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the bottle carrier 10 of the invention isformed of a main body 12 of rigid or semi-rigid moulded plasticsmaterial to which is secured a blister pack or other container 14 forcontaining a gift or other promotional item.

The main body 12 is, in the two-bottle embodiment shown, of generallyelongate shape and comprises a side wall 16 of substantially uniformdepth which extends around the whole periphery of the main body. Betweenthe two ends of the main body, a bridging member 18 extends between theedges of opposed regions of the side wall so that the resultingstructure comprises two openings 20 with a substantially rigid U-sectionregion between them.

Each opening 20 is shaped and dimensioned to receive the upper part ofthe neck of a bottle 40 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. In particular, theside wall is provided at its edge remote from the bridging member 18with a generally radially-inwardly directed lip 22 which projects intothe opening 20 towards the bridging member 18. Diametrically oppositethe lip, each opening is provided with a bottle-locking arm 24. Thebottle locking arms 24 extend from the free edges of the bridging member18 through the main body and terminate in a tab 26 which extendsgenerally radially-inwardly, towards the centre of the opening. Thelength of the bottle locking arms 24 and the material from which theyare formed are such that the bottle locking arms 24 can flex about theiredges which are fixed to the bridging member 18, to allow the tabs tomove a small distance away from the centres of their associatedopenings. Preferably, the bottle locking arms 24 extend a little beyondthe inwardly extending tabs so as to form finger tabs 28.

A locking flap 30 is secured to the main body 12 along one edge of theside wall 16 opposite the bridging member 18. The locking flap 30 ishinged to the edge of the side wall 16 along its entire length and is ofdimensions such that, when folded into the U-shaped channel formed bythe bridging member 18 and the central regions of the side wall 16, itfills the entire space between the side walls 16 and the bottle lockingarms 24. As shown in the drawings, the locking flap 30 is preferablyprovided with a perpendicularly-extending rib 32 along the whole of itslength. The rib 32 serves to maintain the locking flap 30 rigid but alsolocks the bottle locking arms 24 in place as will be described below.

One edge of a blister pack or other container 14 is fixed to the sidewall 16 opposite the locking flap 30. As shown, the container 14 is ofblown plastics material, formed in two parts sealed together by means ofa matching peripherally-extending flanges 34 which, together, form a rimby means of which the container can be adhered or welded to the sidewall 16 of the main body of the bottle carrier. However, it will beappreciated that other methods of construction and materials may beused, according to the nature of the gift or other content to be held inthe container 14. The container 14 is preferably so shaped anddimensioned that it fits neatly against or between the necks of thebottles held by the bottle carrier 10 so that it does not projectbetween the ‘footprint’ of the bottles held in the carrier. This permitsclose stacking of bottles on store shelves or for transport purposes.

Conveniently, the main body 12 can be formed as a single piece bymoulding with the bridging member 18, side wall 16, bottle locking arms24 and locking flap 30 formed integrally and hinges being formed asareas or lines of reduced thickness. Again, however, it will beunderstood that the parts of the bottle carrier may, alternatively, beformed separately and assembled together by gluing or welding.

In use, the container 14 with the associated gift or promotional item issecured to the main body 12 of the bottle carrier along the edge of theside wall 16.

As shown in FIG. 3, the neck of a bottle is inserted into each of theopenings 20 from the side of the bottle carrier 10 remote from thebridging member 18. This is achieved by moving the bottle locking arm 24associated with the opening 20 aside, using the finger tab 28 or simplyby applying pressure to the tab 26 at the end of the bottle locking arm24, until the free end of the arm 24 moves away from the opening 20. Thebottle is positioned so that the lip 22 at the edge of the side wall 16engages under the bottle cap or under an annular ring or abutmentmoulded on the neck of the bottle. The bottle locking arm 24 thenreturns to its unflexed position with the tab 26 at its free end alsoengaging under the annular ring or abutment on the bottle neck. Theengagement of the lip 22 and tab 26 with the abutment on the neck of thebottle prevents the bottle being withdrawn from the opening 20.

The locking flap 30 is then folded inwards until it lies against theside wall 16, along the inside of the main body 12. In this position,the perpendicularly-extending rib 32 lies parallel to the bridgingmember 18 and fills the entire space between the bottle locking arms 24and the side walls 16 of the main body 12. Most importantly, the ends ofthe perpendicular rib 32 engage the bottle locking arms 24, preventingthem being moved aside to release the bottle or bottles, the necks ofwhich are in the openings 20 in the main body 12. In this position, theperpendicular rib 32 presents a flat surface with no free edges and soit is difficult for a shoplifter or other unauthorised person to pullout the locking flap 30 to release the bottles or to remove the giftpack 14 from the bottles. Furthermore, in this position, the lockingflap 30, as mentioned above, lies against the inside of the side wall 16of the main body 12, preventing the perpendicular rib 32 being pushedinwards so to allow an unauthorised person to get a grip on a free edgeand pull the locking flap 30 out to release the bottles.

Thus it will be seen that the invention can provide means for securingtogether two or more bottles quickly and easily but, further, in amanner which is safe, so that bottles are not accidentally dropped, andconvenient since the bottle carrier acts as a convenient carryinghandle. The bottle carrier of the in its preferred embodiment alsoallows gifts or other promotional items to be fixed to pairs ormultiples of bottles quickly and securely, preventing easy removal.

While the embodiment described above is elongate in shape and isintended for use with a pair of bottles, it will readily be understoodthat other shapes may be employed and that different numbers of battlesma be secured together. For example, a triangular carrier might be usedto secure together and carry three bottles or a circular one any chosennumber. The bottle carrier of the invention is consequently useful forall kinds of promotional schemes in which bottles are offered inmultiples.

1. A bottle carrier comprising: a body defining at least two openingseach for receiving a portion of the neck of a bottle to be carried bymeans of the bottle carrier and having side wall means which extendaround a part of the periphery of each of said openings; a lipassociated with each of said openings and formed on the side wall meansextending partially around the periphery thereof, each said lipprojecting radially-inwardly of said opening; a bottle locking armassociated with each opening and extending from said body to a free endso that said free end is movable radially of the opening towards andaway from the lip formed on the side wall means around the periphery ofsaid opening to permit insertion of the neck of a bottle to be carriedinto the opening and the free end of the bottle locking arm and the lipformed on the side wall means cooperating to engage an abutment formedon the neck of the bottle or by the bottle cap to oppose withdrawal ofthe bottle from the opening; and locking means connected to the bodybetween said openings, said locking means being movable in use to alocking position in which it engages the bottle locking arms so as toprevent movement of the bottle locking arms away from the lip on theside wall means to permit withdrawal of the neck of said bottle from theopening, thereby locking the bottle carrier to the bottle or bottles. 2.The bottle carrier of claim 1 wherein the bottle locking arms areresilient and can flex to move the free ends thereof towards and awayfrom the associated lip on the side wall means.
 3. The bottle carrier ofclaim 1 wherein the locking means is hingeably fixed to the body so thathinging movement thereof moves said locking means into the lockingposition, in use.
 4. The bottle carrier of claim 1 wherein the body,bottle locking arms and locking means are formed integrally by molding.5. The bottle carrier of claim 1 wherein said side wall means extendalong the periphery of the body between said openings and said lockingmeans is so shaped and dimensioned that, in the locking position, itsedges engage said side wall means between said openings so that saidside wall means and said bottle locking arms together engagesubstantially the whole peripheral edge of said locking means.
 6. Thebottle carrier of claim 5 wherein the locking means is provided withprojecting stop means which, as the locking means is moved into thelocking position, is brought into engagement with the body to preventmovement of the locking means beyond the locking position.
 7. The bottlecarrier of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the body is shaped toform a carrying handle for said bottles.
 8. The bottle carrier of claim1 further comprising a container for a gift or other item secured tosaid body.